With the memory of past tournament losses to Crittenden County still fresh, they hit the floor ready to play their hearts out and determined to work together as a team. At the center of it all, their setter, Ashlea Russell, was setting the tone—literally. But this wasn’t a one-person show; it was an entire squad moving in sync, each player lifting the others in a series of perfectly timed plays.
In the first set, it was clear that the Lady Colonels had come to win, and they were doing it as a unit. Jazzy Tejada kicked things off, pushing Christian County onto the scoreboard and building momentum with key plays that sent a message: the Lady Colonels weren’t backing down. Ashlea was there every step, setting up for her teammates, finding Tejada and senior Skylar Kirby at critical moments. And when the score hit 20-18 with Crittenden County in the lead, Kirby stepped up. With Ashlea’s setups giving her the edge, Skylar powered through, delivering two of the last three points, closing the set with a decisive 25-23 win.
The second set showed just how well this team worked together under pressure. With Ashlea guiding the rhythm, Christian County started off strong, building a 4-0 lead. But when Crittenden came roaring back to a 24-23 advantage, it became the Kaidence Atwell show. With everyone locked in, Kaidence went to work, racking up three straight kills that turned the game around. Christian County took the set 26-24, and every play was the result of a team in sync, reading each other and the game.
In the third set, the Lady Rockets weren’t going down easy, surging to a 9-5 lead. But the Lady Colonels weren’t fazed. Ashlea continued to make sharp, well-timed sets, while her teammates executed with precision. Emma Webster, Skylar Kirby, and Jazzy Tejada all took turns driving the score up, putting Christian County in position to close the match. Tied at 18-18, every Lady Colonel dug in, with each kill, block, and ace tightening their grip on the game. When Peyton Owens delivered the final point at 25-20, the court erupted—they had done it, a 3-0 sweep over the Lady Rockets.
This victory wasn’t about individual stats or stand-out performances. It was a textbook display of how each Lady Colonel lifted the others, setting each other up for success at every turn. Ashlea ended with assists that made every player on the floor stronger, while Skylar Kirby’s 13 kills, Tejada’s seven, and Atwell’s sharp execution all combined to make this win one of their finest moments as a team. They’re moving on to the semifinals against Union County, with a rhythm and unity that promises exciting things ahead.
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